HEAT Insider’s Summer HEAT edition is back! Throughout the off-season, HEAT Insider will catch up with your favorite HEAT players to talk basketball. In this edition, HI caught up with forward Udonis Haslem to discuss his thumb injury, his expiring contract, and Twitter.

HEAT Insider: How’s your thumb?

Udonis Haslem: “It’s OK. I still have a little stiffness and soreness, but it’s getting better everyday. It’s something that we knew at the beginning of the process would take time over the summer to heal completely. I’ll definitely be ready for camp.”

HI: How is your summer going so far? 

UH: “It’s going good. I’m just trying to get my thumb back to 100 percent. Other than that, I’ve been relaxing and resting my body. I’m planning on getting to work a little earlier than usual this summer.”

HI: What’s a typical off-season for NBA players?

UH: “Obviously, when the off-season begins you get away from basketball; you spend time with family and friends – people you are away from during the season. You spend time with those people first. After that, you get some rest. For me, I start shooting and doing more and more things to get ready as the season gets closer.”

HI: How would you characterize the season?

UH: “It was a successful season. Nobody really gave us a chance to make the playoffs. A lot of people picked us to be one of the worst teams in the league, and we definitely weren’t that. Win a game here and there and we could have gotten the No. 4 seed, and I think if we would have gotten that seed we don’t lose in the first round. I think we played well in the playoffs. We competed, but we just couldn’t get it done. It’s something to build on.”

Udonis Haslem

Haslem 2008-09 Bio Haslem 2008-09 Gallery Haslem 2008-09 Video Highlights Draft Show '08, Pt. 3

HI: You had more responsibility this season than in previous seasons. Would you say this was your toughest season?

UH: “It was definitely a tough season. I had a lot of tasks. I had to be a lot more vocal than I’ve ever had to be. I started out the season playing center, and for me that was tough. I was outweighed and undersized, so I definitely had to outwork guys. With my thumb injury, a minor back injury, death in the family, and stuff like that, it was definitely a tough year. Overall, though, I think it was a successful year and I’m happy with the way we responded.”

HI: Your name is often mentioned when talking about underrated players – players with an impact that doesn’t always reflect in the boxscore. Who do you think is an underrated player?

UH: “That’s a good question. I’d say Reggie Evans in Philadelphia. Thinking back on the games we lost to Philadelphia, I remember how his energy changed the pace and the complexion of the games. The games where he was effective were the games Philadelphia beat us.”

HI: The Finals start on Thursday. Who are you rooting for?

UH: “I play in the Eastern Conference, so I’m obviously looking for the East to be successful. (Magic Head Coach) Stan (Van Gundy), who I played for and have a tremendous amount of respect, I would love to see him win an NBA Championship. He’s a great coach. I think he deserves it, and I’ll be happy to see him win one.”

HI: What does it mean to play in a contract year?

UH: “I approach it like any other year. You want to go out, do your best, and help your team win. You want to stay healthy. All of these things come into play. If these things go well, it helps you as an individual. I just focus on doing the best that I can for the team. I feel if the team wins everyone wins.”

HI: The reality of the NBA is that an expiring contract is one of the best bargaining chips in a trade. By having an expiring contract, how do you deal with that?

UH: “I really don’t think about it. I’ve learned in this league to focus on things that you can control. Getting traded or moved to another team, it’s something that I don’t want to happen, but it’s something that I can’t control.”

HI: There are a lot of players who don’t want to play in their hometowns because of pressure, distractions, etc. Why do you embrace it?

UH: “Everything happens for a reason. I was far away from home as I could be (in France), when I left college. Now, I’m as close to home as I can be – I am home. I don’t think it was coincidence that I had to go around the world to end up in Miami.”

HI: Do you tweet or are you a part of any social network?

UH: “I don’t Twitter, I don’t Facebook – I don’t do any of that. I AIM, but I’m not sure if that’s considered social networking. I don’t have a problem with it, but it’s just not for me. As for me, I’m a phone call or text message away.”

HI: How great was it to be enshrined in the Miami High Hall of Fame?

UH: “If it wasn’t for Miami High, I wouldn’t be here today playing NBA basketball. The work ethic from Frank Martin and that coaching staff were the things I carried with me on every level and have made me the person I am now.”